I always knew the lyrics was "and it's cheese", but I went back to listen to it, and it totally sounds like he's saying "and it's jews". I'm always going to hear that now.
Oh! I'd assumed it was "jeans", as in "just casual, you don't have to wear a dress". You live and learn!
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
Actually, the Gypsy lyric is:
"That lucky star I talk about is DUE"
Sondheim would never rhyme "you" with "you".
I only recently found out that in "Two Ladies" the Emcee says "There's room on the bottom if you drop in some night".
I used to think he said, "There's room on the bottom if you drop in some KNIFE" - knife being penis. Since one of the 'ladies' in the revival was a male, IIRC - I thought it was all fitting etc..
Stand-by Joined: 12/27/08
The Dramadesque Awards. Someone I know really thought that was the name.
I really need to get my hearing checked, because I have misheard quite a few lyrics:
During "Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh," from POTO; I could swear to this very day that I thought the Confidante was singing: "They say that this lord has set my lady's heart A GAZE." It's not much of a difference, and I actually like that alot better, because the original lyrics made it seem like the Don had given the Countess heartburn.
During "Twisted Every Way," from POTO, I thought that Christine was singing: "Am I to risk my life to lose a chance to live." My first thought was: "What the...Is Christine suicidal?" Then I looked up the lyrics, and the "ah-ha" moment came to me.
Another time, I was listening to "Thank You For The Music" from Mamma Mia and I thought that I heard Sophie sing: "Without a song or dance, mon ami." and, I was in the car with my sister at this time, and shouted "WOW! This musical is set in France!" and then I got home and looked up the lyrics, with my sister, and then I've never felt so stupid.
Although this isn't from a cast album, I was listening to "The Trial" from "Pink Floyd: The Wall" and I thought the lyrics were: "Crazy, BALLS in the window, I am crazy." When I realized the correct lyrics, I was told by many that I probably just have a dirty mind.
Anyway, there is alot more, but my brain is tired at this moment.
Caroline, or Change.
During "Dotty and Caroline" I ALWAYS thought Dotty was saying "Give us moon tonight.."
But what she is REALLY saying is: "Gibbous moon tonight" GIBBOUS. it makes so much more sense.
Wish I Were Here from Next to Normal -
actual line: "I imagine it's remarkable: exuberant, austere."
I heard: "I imagine it's remarkable. I'll trip a rift, I'll steer."
actual line: "Is this someone else's head trip? Do I just disappear?"
I heard: "And if someone else detects it, do I just disappear?"
In the Heights opening number:
actual line: "Until the day we go from poverty to stock options."
I heard: "Until the day we go from hominy to sock hops."
Though I do know the original lyric, the first night I saw the current production of A Little Night Music, it sounded to me as if Desiree, in the Reprise of 'Send in the Clowns', sang "Was that a fart?" to which Frederik responded: "My fault I fear."
I know it's really farce, but now I can't help but hearing "fart" when I see it.
In The Wizard and I've always thought she says "And I'll walk down the aisles till I die"... About a month ago I realized she says "I'll want nothing else till I die". It makes soooo much more sense now..
ZORBA, "Life Is"
"...Hungry for the pilaf in someone else's pot..."
I thought was:
"...Hungry for the feel of someone else's butt..."
Seriously. Listen again, and tell me it's impossible.
Featured Actor Joined: 6/4/10
Auggie27, I've actually been hearing it that way this entire time and didn't know that was incorrect.
I always thought it was a little bit of a strange line.
I can't believe it; thank you. Someone else thought I made that up. But you have validated my tin (?) ear.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
"Re: ALL THAT JAZZ--what is the real lyric for "did she hear, her baby's queer" cause that's what I alwasy heard too..."
That IS the line.
"Show her where to park her girdle.
Oh, her mother's blood'll curdle
If she hears her baby's queer ["loves", not meaning "gay"]
For all that jazz"
" "...Hungry for the pilaf in someone else's pot..."
I thought was:
"...Hungry for the feel of someone else's butt..." "
OMG, Auggie, hilarious! What's more, as much as I love "Life Is," I'm only half joking when I say it's arguably a better lyric.
Patti LuPone in Evita during A New Argentina. I never had any idea what she was saying until she got to "If not, how could he love me?"
Broadway Star Joined: 8/19/10
at 2:13 in Sunday Morning Fever on the Sister Act album, and seeing the show twice, I still only hear the line "make your pussies fly."
Listen to it!
Stand-by Joined: 8/12/09
Oh god... That's so unfortunate for those nuns.
" "...Hungry for the pilaf in someone else's pot..."
I thought was:
"...Hungry for the feel of someone else's butt..." "
I now recall that when I listened to the ocr of Zorba as a kid, I always thought that line was "Hungry for the feline someone else has got."
very "Mrs. Mooney has a pie shop....."
Leading Actor Joined: 5/20/11
For the longest time, I thought "wire-spoked wheels in America" was "why they smoke weed in America."
Not a showtune, but in the theme for "Side by Side by Susan Blackwell", I misheard "sit your fat-ass down" as "such a badass gown."
When the sky is a bright and merry yellow,
I forget every cloud I've ever seen.
....
What a coarse enterprise,
Popping pussies into pies.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/11
Credit where credit is due, noname, you mishear lyrics so that they make sense.
I've never seen a "canary yellow" sky; maybe it's a phenomenon of the Southern Hemisphere.
And until you mentioned it and made me look it up, I too thought it was "coarse enterprise." After all, she follows it with "wouldn't do in my shop".
Swing Joined: 9/4/10
Although not from a show,as a teen I always thought the great Roy Orbison was instead of "Only the Lonely" was singing "Hold My Bologna"
Camelot's "Fie On Goodness" always stumped me-- what the hell did "Lolly-lo-lim, cabinet scrim" mean?
Or equally baffling, "Lolly-lo-lets gather some sweats"-- to get ready for Pilates workouts, I guess.
Frankly I never checked the real lyrics till seeing this thread. They are:
"Lolly lo lim, Gad, but it's grim."
And "Lolly lo let, Gad, it's a sweat." WTF!!! That's even stupider than my version.
Alan Jay Lerner was obviously under a huge strain on this show (famously hospitalizing him with a heart attack in Toronto) if he was content to leave these indecipherable words in place.
Bottom line: if lyricists' lyrics get mangled in the playing, it's their own fault for not choosing words that properly sit on the notes till they click on first hearing.
Videos